CINEMARK

A Cinemark movie theater in Spring closed Saturday morning after a fire broke out on the roof.

It’s showtime! The 54th annual WorldFest is set to open this month in Houston.

Universal Pictures has struck another deal with a major theater chain to shorten the theatrical window from three months to as little as 17 days in an effort to adapt to the new business realities of moviegoing. Universal and Cinemark announced Monday a multiyear agreement that guarantees three full weekends, or 17 days, of theatrical exclusivity for Universal and Focus Feature titles before a film can become available to rent on demand. Earlier this summer, Universal made a similar agreement with the nation's largest chain, AMC Theaters. Zoradi said that Universal was forward-thinking in coming to this “mutually beneficial agreement" and wouldn't be surprised if more studios follow suit. Cinemark, which operates brands like Century, Tinseltown and Rave, operates some 332 theaters in the U.S. and 202 internationally.

HOUSTON – Cinemark is joining the dine-in movie craze with the opening of a new location in Cypress. by Cinemark is said to “elevate the traditional movie experience” by offering moviegoers cooked-to-order items prepared in their full-service kitchen, and specialty cocktails. Menu items include a Bistro Burger, pizzas cooked in specialty Italian stone ovens, and classic concession items such as popcorn, hot dogs, and candy. According to a news release, Cinemark will follow strict safety and cleaning guidelines to ensure customer safety. Guidelines include mandatory mask wearing, staggered showtimes, and extensive cleaning in all auditoriums.

It’s been over two months since movie theaters started reopening in the U.S., but there is still a fair amount of consumer confusion about moviegoing in the COVID-19 era. So what do you need to know about going to the theater? Indoor movie theaters remain open in most states, except New Mexico, although some are on a county-by-county basis, including California, Massachusetts, Maryland, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon and Wisconsin. Last weekend, theaters were cleared to open begin opening in some New York State counties at under 50% capacity and this weekend San Francisco will join in too. Indoor spaces like movie theaters, restaurants and malls mean prolonged exposure, which could mean greater risk.

NEW YORK – The Pixar film “Soul” will skip theaters and instead premiere on Disney+ on Christmas, the Walt Disney Co. announced Thursday, sending one of the fall’s last big movies straight to streaming. The successive delays of the film industry's would-be blockbusters has only made the dire circumstances of movie theaters more acute. Without aid, the organization said, 69% of small and mid-sized movie theater companies will close or go bankrupt. “The stark reality is that many movie theaters will not be able to open again if they don’t receive government help,” says Esther Baruh, director of government relations for the association. It recently announced that it would lay off 28,000 workers, most of them at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, and Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

HOUSTON Cinemark announced plans to reopen theaters across the county, with the goal of having all 500 locations back up and running by July 17. According to the company CEO, people itching to get back to the movies will be met with their favorite snacks, drinks and showings of films like Jumanji, Ghostbusters and the Goonies, with tickets priced at $5 per adult and $3 per child. However, people will also see some new procedures and guidelines that have been put in place in order to help keep employees and moviegoers safe. The new Cinemark Standard includes some of the following measures:Employees will sanitize high-traffic areas every 30 minutesAuditoriums will be thoroughly cleaned every morning and occupied seats will be sanitized between showingsThere will be hand-sanitizing stations and wipes available throughout the theaterEmployees will be subject to health screening and must wear gloves and face masksThere will be reduced seating to promote social distancingPeople will be encouraged to buy tickets online to help maintain contactless ticketingGuests will be encouraged to wear face masks or covering in all common areasAll self-serve services, such as candy or condiments, will be suspendedFree refills have been on annual refillable cups and popcorn tubs will no longer be allowedAccording to the website, people who purchase tickets and then cannot go to the movies because they feel sick can get a refund by going online, through the app or by calling 1-800-CINEMARK. For more information on health protocols or showtimes, go to the Cinemark website.

AMC Theaters, the world's largest theater operator, said Tuesday that it expects to have 97-98% of its theaters worldwide reopened by mid-July. It will be up to movie theater operators to convince moviegoers that its safe to once again sit in the dark among strangers. Only recently have state guidelines allowed the reopening of theaters in California (including in the countrys top market, Los Angeles, where local officials have yet to agree). Before Tenet arrives, theaters will play just as those that are currently open are showing recent and classic catalog offerings. Though a handful of movies have been steered to streaming or on-demand platforms during the pandemic, most studio films have been postponed until theaters reopen.